Stop & Shop Supermarket

Typical run of the mill supermarket but convenient to the location. Don’t expect spectacular service but it’s clean and they’ll have most of what you need. I wish they had more of a wild caught fish selection which unfortunately makes me have to shop elsewhere for fish most of the time.

Upon arriving the parking lot was fairly clean and cart free. There were plenty of empty carts inside the entrance but they were all wet from the rain we are getting today. There were no paper towels or even a rag so I had to wait for a customer who was leaving to hand off a dry cart.
Most of the departments were very well stocked and clean. It was about 11:00 am on a Tuesday so it wasn’t very busy. I did see at least one associate in every department except the meat department I saw no one today. I did not use the deli or bakery today, so I can’t rate the service, but the deli seemed pretty backed up for a store that really wasn’t busy.
There was one area in the seasonal housewares section that was a real mess. Other than that section everything looked nice.
It was very nice that there was an open register with no line when I got up to the front. I never use the self checkouts, of which I think this store has way too many. The cashier who rang me out was fairly tolerant of the issues I had once I came to her register. I had an item I decided I no longer wanted to purchase, my daughter spilled crumbs from her muffin all over the floor in line, and I needed to go out to my car to get my wallet since I had forgotten it (I voted today and didn’t put it back in my bag when I got back to my car). While I was out at my car the cashier scanned the rest of my items and the beverage I brought into the store with me. I didn’t realize she had charged me $ 1.67 for the Monster I brought from home (I buy in bulk from Amazon) until I had a chance to sit down and check my receipt at home a couple of hours later. I called the store to ask how I could be refunded the $ 1.67 and the service desk associate informed me that I had to come in to the store with the receipt. I understand why they need to do it that way, I was just hoping they could look up my receipt over the phone and refund my card, because with my older children getting home from school I won’t have time to get back down to the store. Maybe I’ll go down another day when I don’t have dinner to cook and homework to help with.
Overall, I was happier with this trip to stop and shop than I have been in the past, it’s probably the difference between weekend and weekday shopping. I am giving a 3 star rating today.

I echo many of the sentiments below. I have had so many bad experiences here it’s almost comical. From the absolute worst customer service (specifically at the point of sale), to spoiled food, to blocked aisles and employees who won’t get out of your way so you can select and item to purchase. If Big Y could just open in town, Sleepy’s could take over the rest of the building!

They suck, managers are assholes and unfair. Do not treat employees respectable and act inhumane to then.

Kevin L’s review is pretty much spot on. I had the displeasure of shopping here for years simply due to lack of better options in the area. The prices are outrageous. Many times I brought items home only to discover that they were well past their expiration dates and spoiled. The produce is particularly bad. The employees never smile, you will sit them standing around complaining about their jobs at all hours of the day, I’ve heard it in the bakery, the produce department, the aisles… they’re all miserable. Customer service is nonexistent as I’ve asked for certain items to be restocked and it never happened. Luckily I have moved away from Cromwell and never have to go here again! Do yourself a favor and hit up Walmart down the street or a different grocery store 1 town over.

You know how when you move to a new area and you have to sign up for phone, cable, or Internet service, and you find out only AT&T provides service to your apartment complex, which stinks because they are really expensive, but that’s your only feasible option? Then your service goes out and it takes the 3 weeks and you listening to their robot customer service over the phone for hours? And you grow to hate the company with all your heart but, you need to have a phone in your house?
Stop and Shop in Cromwell is the AT&T of grocery stores.
This review has been brewing in my guts for six months since I moved to the area. Let me count the ways I’ve grown to resent the existence of this supermarket:
–They have the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced at a supermarket. I created a game that I play when I go to SnS called «eye contact». Try to make eye contact with any employee in the store (and there are a surprisingly large number of them all over the store) — they will all avoid it. It’s like there’s a poster in their break room that says «greet any shopper that you see! :D» so they all have to pretend you aren’t there or be forced to interact with you. Today even the cashier i had wouldn’t greet or look me in the eye. I caught one guy today that actually returned gaze, I nodded and he promptly turned away. Try this game yourself, it’s hilarious. It’s really hard to to get help when you are shopping here.
–Their employees are MISERABLE. Go in around 5:00pm and you’ll get a free show in the produce department. There’s a group of 3 middle aged guys that will be stocking the fruit and complaining out loud together about their shifts. I’ve also seen one college-​age girl walk up to another who was stocking the dairy case, and start a loud conversation about how her boss gave her bad hours this week and the other girl stopped working to listen and share her own thoughts. Of course I stopped shopping to listen to their public discussion and see if they would become self-​aware, but their talk went on for a full three to four minutes without them noticing me seven feet away. Good thing I didn’t need yogurt, I could have been waiting a while for them to move. Often I see employees on the floor using their phones.
–Which leads me to my next issue: No other grocery store I’ve ever been to seems to have the stocking issues that SnS has because they are stocking the shelves all day long. Go in and you’ll see big dollies with goods in all the aisles, sometimes even unmanned (I’ll out up pictures I have of proof). And the employees stocking aren’t trained to move out of the way if you need something on the shelf that they are blocking. I know a store has to keep stuff on the shelves but, again, every other grocery store I’ve been a regular shopper at in my life has figured out how to do this, why can’t SnS?
–Someone at SnS HQ had the genius idea to take out not just a few cashiers and replace them with self-​serve registers, but half of all the registers. This in spite of the fact that many large chains are getting rid of the self-​service registers because studies show they don’t lead to the untended improvements. And the ones at SnS are the worst. Try and buy a magazine — the scanner won’t read that it made it to the belt so you have to either wipe it for the (absent) employee or hold it up as it goes down the belt so the machine will see it. Also, I don’t know who’s genius idea it was to make the end of the self service checkout belt a descending ramp, but they are responsible for every soda I’ve ever bought at SnS getting ruined unless I stop scanning stuff and cradle it all the way down. Same goes for anything I buy in a glass jar.
–In their magazine area Highlights for Children is directly below the Hot Rod and men’s magazines with the booty girls on them. Good call.
What makes all this sad is that Stop and Shop has the potential to be a good store. It’s clean and the décor is pleasant and bright. With the exception of their Latin foods section, they carry a good range of brands and items. They have a nice organic area that usually only fancier grocery stores have. They carry comic books. And they have the best location in Cromwell.
But they just can’t do it, and I have to wonder if it’s got to be a management issue. There is a culture at SnS that doesn’t make the customer’s experience a priority. The fact that this is not just one bad dude who work there but a pattern of behavior amongst the workforce in general, I actually don’t blame the lower level employees themselves, in fact I feel bad for them that so many of them seem to be so unhappy there. I wonder what their morning team meetings are like.
And I am sad because they are the only real grocery store in the area. I always plan on swearing off SnS and going to the really nice Big Y in Rocky Hill, but I just want a place that I can stop and shop at on the way home from work. And unfortunately for me, that’s this Stop and Shop. Boo.

Incompetent and argumentative union employees make for a total shitshow. More self-​checkouts are usually open than staffed registers. I think it’s extremely ballsy to make the customer do their work, considering the prices they charge.
Holy S**t, was I on the schedule today? I forgot my apron.
Employee: «Sir you forgot to scan that, you have to pay for that»…
Me: «I screwed up? My Bad, what are you gonna do, cut my hours? I don’t work here»
I shop here as a LAST RESORT ONLY, and everytime I go i scan the aisles for pricing mistakes so I can get free stuff.

Stop & Shop Gas Rewards Program
Although the store is older and sometimes low on stock (particularly on Sale and popular Items) — it is convenient to «Condo Heaven» in Middletown and frequented by the Middletown/​Cromwell Locals that access Routes 3, 9 and Interstate 91 along Route 372 (Berlin Road).
The staff us pleasant and I overheard one customer mentioning to the Produce Manager one evening that she wanted to compliment an employee that had gone to the back to find her a particular item that she could not find. In my experience — the staff, particularly the late-​evening Crew around from 7:00 PM until Midnight, when I return home from work and shop for groceries, is usually very friendly, thoughtful and helpful — if not a bit slow attend the registers due to the skeleton crew at the front of the store.
The Gas Station adjacent to the property, however, is a bit more dismal. Staffed by one person, poorly lit and closed by 10:00 PM (usually earlier) despite the store being open until Midnight most evenings — it looks old, dilapidated and out-​of-​place along the line of Berlin Road Competitors, including the new Cumberland Farms (offering $ 0.10-off per gallon by using their SmartPay Phone Application or Loyalty Card), Shell, Exxon and the other usual offerings.
This morning, after accumulating a $ 0.50 per gallon discount for Gas from shopping at Stop & Shop — We went to fill both a large SUV and a smaller economy car with Premium Gasoline ($ 4.15 per gallon for $ 3.65 with my $ 0.50 Discount) and was confronted with Marilyn — the Gas Station Attendant.
Emerging from her small post — she yelled at the first island of gas pumps and stated that «You can’t fill two cars per Manager’s Orders!» While we mentioned that we have done the same before — she debated «It’s ‘Managers Orders,’ but you might be able to hang the pump up and run the card again.»
When we mentioned that we had done the same before at that and other stations, Marilyn yelled, «You’re NOT supposed to. But it might work if you stop ‘conversating’ and try!»
Somewhat annoyed by her combative nature and poor grammar, I noted, «I don’t mind being told policy, but ‘conversating’ really isn’t ‘Proper English’ — perhaps ‘conversing’ or ‘speaking’ would work better. Meantime — I’m just going to fill the tank.»
She proceeded to yell — «I can shut the pump off!» at which point she quickly retreated to her attendant booth, turned-​on the microphone and yelled on the speaker, «Shut Up Dumbass!»
I had missed the comment, which my Partner caught, and approached the attendant station calmly, asking, «Can you repeat that?»
«You heard me!» she shouted (this time through the glass, without the audio-​enhancement).
What ensued was an unwanted and unpleasant drive to the Stop & Shop Customer Service Desk next door to call the Manager to discuss the unnecessary comment and a thoughtful discussion of Store Policy, Employee Customer expectations and the like.
Of note — the «Manager’s Policy,» affirmed by the Store Manager himself to be «Store/​Company Policy» is NOT posted on the Gas Station pumps outside.
It is loosely stated on the «Terms & Conditions’ of the Stop & Shop Gas Rewards Program Pop-​Up online: (
) as, «Fuel savings are limited to 35 gallons of fuel per vehicle per purchase, or limits placed on your payment card by your financial institution, which may be lower. » Interpretations of ‘per vehicle/​per purchase’ do not define that it for ONE vehicle in ONE pump-​session.
More clarity is, instead, relegated to a FAQ (buried within sub-​links on the Gas Rewards Program amid other relevant Customer Service and Store/​Product Questions)
None-​the-​less — I now have two $ 1.00 charges from Stop & Shop Gas on my Debit Card and one $ 1.00 credit — awaiting the final amount (s) to post on the Bank Transaction listing. Since the attendant decided to ‘enforce’ policy and use her ‘power at the pump’ — we are currently unsure as to how much was actually pumped and charged to our account (violating a variety of UC Banking and FTC-​regulated Consumer Protection Laws) and can only contemplate what might or might-​not be reflected.
Ultimately NOT the best Customer Service Experience — although the Store Manager (who has yet to call and confirm the amount spent on our account) was polite, apologetic and thoughtful during the early-​morning discussion.
Is it worth the savings? Price Chopper (not too far down the road) offers $ 0.50-off on Gas with every $ 50.00 spent on Groceries, runs comparable Weekly Circular offerings, sells food, flowers, pharmaceuticals, Seasonal items and stocks their bake shop with fresh baked goods.
I think we will be driving just a little further to earn a higher reward and experience alternative Customer Service — hopefully with better results.

I don’t know, but I like this place.
It’s pretty big and has a health food section. I think that’s what makes it so cool. Plus, they really pride themselves on their technological equipment like the scanners and such.

Most Stop & Shops are clean or at least presentable, but this one in Cromwell is the absolute dirtiest Stop & Shop I’ve ever been to. They are also under-​staffed and the shelves are poorly stocked. I come here often visiting family and it’s never improved. Obviously, they are poorly managed.
You’re much better off taking a 10 minute drive to Rocky Hill’s Stop & Shop. Far, far cleaner and the food, meats and deli are more appetizing.

Although I don’t do my primary grocery shopping at Stop & Shop, it is my go to place for quick items and last minute purchases. This particular store is relatively large and spread out; easy to navigate; and clean. All of which makes me a happy customer.

another s&s. looked like a train wreck last time i was in, i think they are re-​doing the shelving or something. hopefully it will be nice when they are done! new LED freezer cases in already.

Hitting up the redbox. I get my groceries at Stew Leonards and Big Y, not here.

What I really enjoy most about Stop and Shop is getting to walk by the workers on break smoking their cigarettes right as you walk in the front door. Walking through a smoke haze on a sidewalk speckled with gum and spit really makes me want to shop for food for my kids.
We rarely buy meat or fish here anymore. It just never seems fresh and does not keep well. Also, the produce is second rate to what you would get at a Whole Foods (but cheaper of course). I’d recommend spending a bit more for something fresh.
Super Stop and Shop is good for buying low priced staples like milk, bread, etc. They have the usual grocery store assortment of items. Otherwise, nothing special. They have a People’s Bank on site, which is extremely convenient.
They formerly had a Dunkin which shut down… too bad the staff can’t get a coffee with their smoke.